How to Use this Encylopedia

Each entry file begins with a list of synonymous names.
Synonymous names share the same entry file; for example
Cymbal and Zimbel are described
on the same page, since they are two names for the same stop.
“Same stop” means that there are no significant differences
in the pitch, tone or construction implied by the different
names.

The language(s) of origin appears after each name, in one of the following variations:

Language

The language of origin is known.

Language1 ?

The language of origin is suspected but not known for certain.

Language1, Language2

The name belongs to two (or more) languages.

Language1/Language2

The name is a hybrid of two languages.

(unknown)

The language of origin is unknown.

Examples

Every entry file has a section called “Examples”, except where
examples are cited in quotations and no other examples are known.
Each example has the following format:

Where an example is cited as being the “earliest known” example,
this means the earliest example known to the author, based primarily
on the Osiris archives.
If you know of an earlier example than the one claimed,
please let me know.